The Internet has become an integral part of our daily lives -- a quick, easy and convenient way to pay your utility bill, request service and find ways to reduce your energy usage and costs.

We want to make it easy for you to do business with us, any hour of the day or night -- safely and securely. We are committed to safeguarding your confidential account information and securing your utility account.

That’s why we’re providing these tips on protecting your personal information. You can also go to ftc.gov/idtheft to learn what to do if your identity is stolen or your personal or financial information has been compromised -- online or in the "real" world.

• Share only what you have to. Don’t give out information such as your Social Security number, account number or mother’s maiden name unless it is truly necessary to complete a transaction.
• Create secure passwords. Use passwords that have at least eight characters and include numbers or symbols. A 12-character password is stronger than one with eight characters. Avoid common words, change your passwords regularly (at a minimum, every 90 days) don't use the same password for each online account you access, and don’t give your passwords to anyone.
• Respond with care. Don’t respond if you get a message -- by email, text, pop-up or phone -- that asks you to call a phone number to update your account or give your personal information to access a refund. If you need to reach an organization with which you do business, call the number on your financial statement, or use a telephone directory.
• Call ahead. Do some independent research of online entities so you know who they are. Type the website's name into a search engine and look for reviews. Find a working phone number so you can ask questions. If you find unfavorable reviews or cannot find a working phone number, you may be better off doing business elsewhere.
• Protect your computer. Make sure you check your web browser and virus protection software for updates regularly.
• Think “security” on blogs and personal websites. Even seemingly innocent references to your friends, family or work can provide details needed to steal your identity. Refer to people by nicknames only and think twice about the content of any photos you choose to post.